Not only can you throw a couple of tablespoons into a pot of water and leave it simmering on your stove all day to create a warm and inviting smell, you can toss it in hot apple cider and enjoy a delicious beverage to chase away those winter blues! This also makes a great gift. Add some of the mixture into a small glass bottle and give people happiness in a bottle.
Course Drinks, fun stuff
Servings 2cups
Author Ryley Kennedy
Ingredients
1large orange, zested, peel and pith, minced
2tbspcinnamon sticks
1.5tbspwhole allspice
1.5tbspwhole cloves
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using a good, sharp vegetable peeler, get just under the surface of the peel of an orange (if possible, use navel oranges; their thick peels make them easier to work with).
Stack a few strings together and slice them crosswise into thin pieces. Use all of the zest, peel and pith.
Scatter the orange pieces over the parchment paper and bake for about 30-45 minutes (or until dry).
Place the cinnamon sticks in a Ziploc and wrap in a kitchen towel. Use a rolling pin (or other heavy object) hammer the cinnamon into small pieces (about 1 cm long).
Mix everything together in an airtight container and enjoy! Feel free to add to a pot of simmering water on the stove or a cup of hot cider to kick things up a notch (feel free to add a splash of apple brandy to make a more adult version that is sure to be a fan favorite at holiday parties).